South Galway

THE long-awaited sewage treatment plant planned for Kinvara is a step closer to becoming a reality after Irish Water confirmed in the past week that it has begun the tendering process for it and also a new sewage pipe network to serve the town. For decades, locals and public representatives have campaigned for a sewage treatment plant for the village. On hearing the news, Fine Gael Deputy Ciarán Cannon said, “We’re almost there and I’m delighted to have received this news from Irish Water. The tendering process for both the new plant and new network has finally begun and Irish Water will be seeking tenders from a preferred panel of contractors, who have already been through a serious process of scrutiny to determine that they are capable of delivering on such a contract. “The people of Kinvara have been very patient while witnessing raw sewage pouring into their beautiful bay on a regular basis. I know that at times they …

November 14, 2014Comments Off on Badges of honour for forgotten war volunteers

Commemorations have taken place all over Europe this year, marking the centenary of the beginning of World War I. The Great War raged for more than four years, ending on November 11, 1918. On Tuesday, the anniversary of Armistice Day, Irish soldiers were remembered in South Galway. Commemorative badges, manufactured and designed by students in Gort Community School, were distributed at a ceremony of remembrance, as students and staff recalled the forgotten Irish volunteers. Young people in fourth year conducted a project with the goal of remembering the 150,000 Irish who fought in the war. Their project was cross-curricular taking in a number of subjects and departments. “As part of the project, they looked for a symbol to represent the volunteers but the only symbol they came across was the poppy. Many of the class were unhappy to use the poppy, as they felt they wanted to have something original that would remember just the Irish,” explained history teacher and …

A group of Gort students made waves in Kerry last week where they won a top Irish language music prize. Eight songs were selected for the final of the Comórtas Beo song-writing competition for young people held in Killarney on Thursday last. Sixteen year old Barra MacMahon from Kinvara composed the song and with classmates from his music class in Gort Community School performed it on stage in the final which coincided with Oireachtas na Gaeilge. The group’s song Bí Imithe proved a hit with judges winning the overall prize of €3,000. “My music teacher Yvonne Conroy told us about the competition. She had received an email about it. That was back in September,” Barra recalled. To enter people between 11 and 18 had to compose a song in Irish lasting less than five minutes, be prepared to perform it live at the finals, supply a video including the song and details of the writing process as well as recording …

Gardaí are seeking the public’s assistance in tracing the whereabouts of 15-year-old Salem Bombo, missing from Galway City since October 1. Salem is described as being approximately 5′ 10″ in height, of slim build with black hair and brown eyes. Salem, who is missing from his home at Cappagh Road, Galway City, was last seen on October 30 at Eyre Square, Galway. Salem generally dresses in jeans, t-shirt and runners. Gardaí are concerned for Salem’s welfare and anyone with information is asked to contact Salthill Garda Station on 091 514720, The Garda Confidential Line 1800 666111 or any Garda Station.

September 27, 2014Comments Off on Flooding labeled a ‘mental health’ issue

A local representative is warning that living under threat of flooding is having a negative impact on the mental health of people in South Galway. County councillor, Joe Byrne is calling on the Government to seek a derogation from Europe in relation to the Habitats Directive, in order to allow flood prevention works to take place. The Kinvara man wrote to the Office of Public Works last week, after it emerged that a representative of the OPW, who had been invited, would not be attending the September meeting of Galway County Council on Monday. “In fairness to the OPW, I think their hands are tied because they will come back to us and say the Habitats Directive prevents us from doing X, Y and Z. So, unless the Irish Government goes to Europe and gets a win-win situation, whereby they agree some sort of derogation on the Habitats Directive, we won’t be able to do this work, a lot of …

THE recent boycott of Israeli goods by Kinvara businesses has been a catalyst for change elsewhere and was a welcome show of solidarity with the people of Gaza, according to the Palestinian Ambassador to Ireland, Ahmad Abdelrazek. His Excellency Mr Abdelrazek was in the South Galway village with his wife, Rania Abdullah, on Friday to acknowledge the collective action taken by the pharmacy, retailers, restaurants, cafés and salons there, in response to the bombardment of Gaza last month. The boycott was the brainchild of John Griffin, Frank Naughton and Vicky Donnelly, who guided the couple around the village during their short visit, introducing them to business people and members of the community. His Excellency Mr Abdelrazek was welcomed by those who met him and even gave an impromptu address to the busy Kinvara Farmers’ Market. In an interview with The Clare Champion, the ambassador stated that people in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank were aware of the move …

August 28, 2014Comments Off on Cillian shows leader skills for Burrenbeo

Earlier this year, Burrenbeo Trust put out a call looking for a ‘Young Burren Leader’ to represent the landscape charity at the world’s largest conservation conference in Australia. This week, the successful candidate for the role as a Global Youth Ambassador (GYA) has been announced as New Quay’s Cillian Fahy. This is not the first award for Cillian, who became the only Irish person to receive a Gates Cambridge Scholarship this year, allowing him to pursue an M. Phil in European Literature and Culture at the university starting in October. After getting As across the board in his Leaving Cert in 2010, Cillian sold his notes online for €3,000 and subsequently was a regular columnist in the Irish Times education section. He holds a degree in English Literature from Trinity College, Dublin. After being named a global youth ambassador, Cillian will now represent the Burrenbeo Trust at the world’s largest conservation conference, the IUCN World Congress in Syndey, this November. …

Galway County Councillor, Michael Fahy has fallen foul of organisations representing immigrants following his comments that “local Irish people” should be hired ahead of “people from other countries” on the €550m Gort to Tuam motorway. The Ardrahan councillor, interviewed on Clare FM, said he believes if the construction jobs the motorway project were to go to non-Irish workers, the money would leave the country. Clare Immigrant Support Centre is urging “caution” following Mr Fahy’s remarks. Director, Orla Ní Éili said the current financial difficulties many are faced with are not exclusive to Irish natives living her. A spokesperson for the Immigrant Council of Ireland Immigrants, Orla Ní Éili, Clare Immigrant Support Centre, described Mr Fahy’s comments as “offensive and unacceptable” and called on him to withdraw them. Councillor Fahy has called on all the companies involved to ensure local Irish people are hired and not people from other countries. .